Dr Lim leading the Vietnam mission with his teammates Mr Tan Kai Wei and Dr Pamela Tay in underserved in Quang Tri province, Vietnam.

For Dr Lim Gim Hui (’20), the opportunity to help others through medicine was a calling that he could not ignore. As a naval officer of eight years, he witnessed first-hand how patients only had access to medical services once a year during overseas humanitarian missions. Inspired by the positive impact made by the medical team, he signed up to study to be a doctor at the Duke-NUS Medical School. 

However, Dr Lim’s decision to switch careers in his 30s was not an easy one. Torn between his medical dream and financial worries, the young father was hesitant about taking a hiatus from work and going back to school. His worries were put to rest when he received the Duke-NUS Bursary. The financial assistance from the Bursary enabled him to grab onto an opportunity that would otherwise be out of reach.

 “I remember receiving the letter of acceptance with mixed feelings. On one hand, I wished to pursue my desire to help others, but on the other hand, there were real concerns about coping with the daily needs of my young family, and whether I should pursue a full-time course in medicine,” Dr Lim said.

Dr Lim and his young family.

"The Duke-NUS Bursary certainly allayed some uncertainty during the transition period to full-time medical school. The financial support from the Bursary enabled me to focus my efforts on attaining the knowledge and skills required as a doctor,” he added.

Raring to help those in need, he stepped up to serve the community during his studies, as part of Project DOVE (Duke-NUS Overseas Volunteering Expedition). Established in 2010, the student-led social impact initiative provides medical aid to underprivileged communities in neighbouring countries. During overseas missions, students operate medical clinics and conduct health education for local schools.

In 2019, Project Dove partnered with Project Vietnam Foundation to reach out to the underserved in Quang Tri province, Vietnam. The team, which was made up of 18 medical students and guided by 6 faculty members, successfully embarked on the trip from 6 to 12 April 2019. Over four days of medical clinics and a day of health education, the team served 1,010 beneficiaries from 20 different villages

At the Vietnam mission, villagers eagerly flocked to the clinic set up by Dr Lim and his team, drawn by the rare chance to receive medical attention. For many, it was the first time they had ever seen a doctor. Others walked through the night to reach the clinic in time.

Despite facing a daunting influx of patients, Dr Lim remained calm and collected. His co-lead Mr Tan Kai Wei, a Duke-NUS Medical School PhD student, shared: “In the thick of running the clinics in Vietnam, there were moments when we were overwhelmed with patients. Whenever that happened, Dr Lim would always step up to identify the bottleneck and ease the situation…His ability to look ten steps ahead has also helped us anticipate problems, allowing us to prepare sufficiently for the trip.”

With Dr Lim and Mr Tan at the helm, the Vietnam mission proved to be a resounding success. Overcoming the language barrier and harsh weather conditions in a remote region, the volunteers soldiered on to help more than 1,010 patients from 20 different villages in Vietnam.

Project DOVE alumni Dr Pamela Tay (’20) believes every effort at these overseas community service trips counts. Having volunteered alongside Dr Lim in Project DOVE, she remarked: “These trips provide a continued avenue to foster the spirit of alumni giving back among our future doctors.”

The Project DOVE team’s philanthropic efforts did not go unnoticed. They won the Community Service (Merit) Award at the Student Life Awards 2019 for their significant contributions to the University outside of academia.

Project DOVE won the Community Service (Merit) Award at the NUS Student Life Awards 2019

But the most precious takeaway came from the project’s beneficiaries. Recalling a particularly moving moment, Dr Lim shared: “I was deeply touched when I learnt that one of the villagers carried his father on foot for two days to reach our temporary facility. It was then that I realised how privileged we were in Singapore, to have an excellent and accessible healthcare system.

After graduating from Duke-NUS in 2020, Dr Lim returned to serve in the navy as a medical officer, caring for the sailors and divers who defend our nation. He recently completed his tour as the Commanding Officer for Base Medical Squadron and Branch Head for Naval Force Health Branch.

He is currently completing his Occupational Medicine senior residency training in Sengkang General Hospital

Dr Lim in his present workplace as a navy medical officer 

Despite Dr Lim’s busy schedule at work and at home, Project DOVE continues to be a big part of his life. It is his way of paying it forward. Post COVID-19, he mentored the first trip for Project DOVE in 2023 to Sri Lanka. He was also the trip mentor for 2024 (Nepal) and preparing for the upcoming trip to Nepal in 2025

“I am blessed to be given the opportunity to be in the medical profession, and I hope to continue serving the community in my capacity as a junior doctor. Now, I volunteer to guide the juniors who are planning for Project DOVE this year,” Dr Lim concluded.

If you wish to empower more students like Dr Lim, support the Student Financial Aid fund here.

If you wish to support Project Dove, please click here.